MINEX Forum

Tag: EU climate policy

  • EU Grants Poland Derogation to Keep Coal Plants Running Until 2028

    EU Grants Poland Derogation to Keep Coal Plants Running Until 2028

    The European Commission has granted Poland a derogation allowing the country to keep its coal-fired power plants operating within the EU’s capacity market until the end of 2028, providing a temporary reprieve for Europe’s last remaining coal producer.

    The decision enables the Polish government to extend financial support to coal units that exceed the EU’s emission cap of 550 grams of CO₂ per kilowatt-hour (kWh), a limit set under the EU Regulation 2019/943. The approval applies from 1 July 2025 through 31 December 2028 and covers both hard coal and lignite power plants.

    The move offers a lifeline to Poland’s coal sector, which still underpins much of the country’s power generation. While the EU is accelerating efforts to phase out fossil fuels in line with the Paris Agreement, Poland remains heavily reliant on coal for electricity and heating — a stance that has increasingly set it apart from other member states.

    Under the derogation, supplementary capacity auctions will be permitted if Poland’s main auctions fail to secure adequate generation capacity to meet the national reliability standard. These short-term contracts, limited to a maximum of one year (or six months for 2025), will be available to coal-fired units that exceed the CO₂ threshold.

    However, the European Commission’s approval comes with strict conditions. Poland must:

    • Update its National Resource Adequacy Assessment (NRAA) with a 10-year projection plan, analyzing plant closures, new constructions, and temporary shutdowns.

    • Conduct detailed modeling to accurately estimate future electricity exports and imports based on sound economic assumptions.

    • Demonstrate that maintenance and refurbishment schedules reflect actual operational plans and national conditions.

    The Commission emphasized that the derogation should not undermine the EU’s long-term decarbonization objectives and is intended as a transitional measure to maintain grid reliability during Poland’s energy transition.

    Poland’s dependence on coal remains significant, accounting for the vast majority of its power generation. Industry experts estimate the Polish state spends about €235,000 per hour subsidizing coal operations.

    Elsewhere in Europe, countries including Germany, the Czech Republic, and Slovenia have accelerated coal phase-outs, selling or shutting down key plants to meet EU divestment and climate targets.

    While global efforts continue to shift toward renewable energy, the Energy Information Agency recently reported that coal consumption could rise in several nations over the next decade due to slow renewable deployment and energy security concerns.

    For now, Poland stands as the EU’s last coal stronghold, facing growing pressure to align its energy system with Europe’s green transition.

  • Poland’s Coal Exit Stalls Amid Political Battles, But Economics Point to Faster Phase-Out

    Poland’s Coal Exit Stalls Amid Political Battles, But Economics Point to Faster Phase-Out

    In August 2023, Poland’s state-owned utility PGE stunned the nation by pledging to become carbon neutral by 2040 and quit coal entirely by 2030 — a decade earlier than planned. The move, in line with EU climate ambitions, was quickly reversed after fierce backlash from mining unions in Silesia, Poland’s coal heartland, and political pressure ahead of national elections.

    Eighteen months into the new pro-EU government of Prime Minister Donald Tusk, progress on the energy transition remains slow. A key reform to loosen restrictions on wind turbine construction passed parliament last week but faces an expected presidential veto from Karol Nawrocki, a coal supporter elected with backing from the previous ruling party.

    Poland’s reliance on coal is deeply rooted in its geology, economic history, and cultural identity. With 27.8 billion tonnes of reserves — the second-largest in the EU — coal still generates 57% of the country’s electricity, the highest share in Europe. Mining employs tens of thousands and carries strong political weight, particularly in Silesia, where miners are held in high public esteem.

    Economically, the sector is struggling. Domestic output has dropped from over 250 million tonnes annually in the 1980s to about 85 million today, with production costs among the highest in the world at over 900 złoty ($243) per tonne. Heavy subsidies keep the industry afloat, costing taxpayers 9 billion złoty in 2025 — about 600 złoty per household.

    Poland’s slow pace on clean energy has left it vulnerable to rising carbon costs under the EU Emissions Trading System, with new ETS2 rules set to extend carbon pricing to households from 2027. Around one-third of Polish homes still burn coal for heating, making them particularly exposed. Analysts warn that political resistance to ETS2 could delay implementation and stall the transition further.

    Despite delays, Poland’s draft National Energy and Climate Plan projects coal’s near-total disappearance by 2035. Energy experts argue this could happen sooner, as economics increasingly favour renewables. In April, coal’s share of monthly electricity generation dipped below 50% for the first time, and renewables now account for 29% of the energy mix, nearly double the share in 2020.

    Yet the political tug-of-war between coal defenders and clean energy advocates continues to shape policy — and Poland’s future competitiveness. Major investors, including Google, Amazon, and Mercedes, have warned that the country’s coal-heavy power mix could deter investment, while its fast-growing battery industry risks losing ground under new EU carbon footprint rules.

    “The energy market and society need this investment pathway to be implemented,” said Tobiasz Adamczewski of think tank Forum Energii, adding that a just transition for coal communities will be key.